The Learning Disabilities Census was introduced in the wake of the Winterbourne View Enquiry. The results of the 2014 census have been subject to further analysis, and a report has just (30th April) been published on the Health and Social Care Information Centre website
The Report’s Summary reads as follows:
This report presents further findings from the 2014 Learning Disability Census for key measures at Area Team level. The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) collected data on behalf of the Department of Health, the Care Quality Commission, Public Health England and NHS England.
“The 2014 Learning Disability Census was the second such collection recording key information about the location and level of inpatient care for patients with learning disabilities and/or Autism spectrum disorder (including Asperger’s); the first census took place on 30 September 2013. Information on the Learning Disability Census can be found at: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/ldcensus
The principal aim of the Learning Disability Census is to deliver action 17 in ‘Transforming Care: A national response to Winterbourne View Hospital – “an audit of current services for people with challenging behaviour to take a snapshot of provision, numbers of out of area placements and lengths of stay”.
The Learning Disability Census provides an individual record-level snapshot of inpatients with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder and/or behaviour that challenges, and the services they receive, for patients who were inpatients in NHS and independent services at midnight on 30 September 2014.
The report comprises various graphs, charts and maps generated from the underlying data. No doubt professionals in the health and care sectors will comment on them, but to the casual/non-professional observer they suggest some interesting statistical variations between local authorities, health authorities and geographic regions. Well worth a browse if you have the time.